Press



March 26, 1935. G, A. scHETTLER PRESS Filed NOV. 18, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 26, 1935. G. A. SCHETTLER PRESS Filed NOV. 18, 1931 5 sheeissheet 2 /N VENToR MUwO-La March 26, 1935.

G. A. scHETTLER 1,995?325 PRESS Filed Nov. 1e, 1931 s sheets-sheetL s Patented Mar. 26, 1935 1,995,325 lPRESSA Gustav Adolf Schettler, Leeds,j England, assigner to The Turner Tanning' Machinery Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine Application November 18, 19731, Serial No. 575,889 VIn Great Britain November 225.1930 v 13 Claims.

This invention relates to presses. While the invention is illustrated with reference to a press -for smooth plating and embossing operations upon hides and skins, it is to be understood that the inventionY and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses.

It is an object of this invention to provide a press of the mechanical type having a simple, durable and highly effective mechanism for causing relative movement between ,the .pressure applying members of the press.

To these ends and in accordance with an im- V portant feature of the invention the illustrated machine is vprovided with improved means for causing pressure applying operations between two platens, the illustrated means comprising a pair or" eccentrics arranged to operate in peripheral rolling contact with each other, whereby a relatively wide space may be provided between the two platens while they are in separated work receiving position to facilitate introduction of the work and whereby relativemovement between the platens in a vdirection to eiect a pressure applying operation takes place rapidly thereby contributing greatly to the eiciency of the press. By employing `two fio-operating eccentrics of the same or similar contour and size the power of the press, as well as its speed of operation, becomes one of its notable characteristics.

While in the illustrated embodiment of the invention platens are employed as the work treating instrumentalities, it will be understood that the latter are not necessarily of the platen type.

Improved means is provided in the illustrated construction l:for supporting and driving the cooperatingeccentrics comprisingshafts on which the eccentrics Vare xedly mounted and, secured to theV shafts, a pair of intermeshed eccentric gears each of substantially the same eccentricity as that of its associated eccentric. By this construction the shaft vfor supporting and driving one of the eccentrics may be driven from the shaft supporting the other eccentric although in f the operation of the press the shafts are moved toward and from each-other to the same extent as are the platens, operating connections between the shafts being maintained by the eccentric gears.

These and other important features of the invention and novel combinations of parts will now be described .in detail and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig.` 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of

(Crim- 3) a press ,illustrating one embodiment of the vinvention;

Fie'. 2 is a transverse sectionalelevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the pressshownin Fig.1; 1 f

of a modication f hereinafter Fig. 4 a detail referred to; Y

Fig. 5 is a part-sectional end elevation of` a modication illustrating a special mounting'-for the lower platen, the latter being shown inthe operative orpressing position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but shows the platen-in inoperative position; and Fig. '7 is a sectional View along the line VII- VII of Fig. 1 showing adjusting means for the .l5 lower platen. Y v Y In the illustrated press, specially designed for `smooth plating and lembossing pieces of leather,

there is provided a frame comprising a group of horizontal and parallel beams or girders l `Vof I-section, mounted on vbase, members or feet 2, Iand end members 3 mounted onithetop of the beams or girdersll. There arealso anothersimilar set 'of beams or girders4 mounted on the topof the end members 3,v andbearings 5 mounted on the V2 5 top of the upper beams or girdersil fora purf pose hereinafter mentioned, the whole beingv rigidly clamped together at opposite ends of Athe machine'by means of vertical bolts Sand nuts 7( This machine has platens 8 and 9, thetop `platen 8 being attached face downwards tothe upper group of beams or girders 4 belowthe same, Yby screws l0 (Figs. 2 Vand), although nut and bolt) or 'equivalent fastenings maybe employed.v As clearly shown,fa substantial layer or packing 11 of asbestos is4 interposed between,the upp e r set of girders 4 andthe back ofthis platen 8, said llayer or packing being thicker in the'center than at the ends to allow for rslight deflection of the platen. This platenis furnished with a .steam chamber comprising one lor more passages or compartments l2 (Fig. 2) for steam, appropriate connections, `such as pipes 13 (Fig. l), being pro-V vided between the platen 8 and a suitable source vof heat supply; VAs shown, theheated .platen is V45 tened, the number of cam members being varied according to the length of the platens. It will be noted that the shafts 18 and 19 receive support at a plurality of points, whereby the pressure is advantageously distributed and the tendency of .the shafts to bend unduly is eliminated. The lower half or section 14 of 4thisrframe or casing is fastened on' the top of the lower group of beams or girders 1 by means of screws 22. The upper section or half 15 which carries the platen 9` is slidable vertically in relation to the lower section, and to this end is fitted within guides constituted by side and endV platesl 23, 24 attached to the lower section 14./The eccentric; orcani shafts 18 and 19 are also furnished respectively with eccentric toothed gears 25, 26,(Fig. 1) whereby the upper shaft 19 is driven fro-inthe lower shaft 18 during operation ofthe earn ineiribersY 20 and 21, the gears having the same eccentricity as the eccentrics. The construction and arrange- 'nent is such that,-`Whnthe partsare assembled,

the eccentric or cam shafts 18 and 19 aresuperposedparallel withl eachother with the eccentrios or cams 20,- 21 periph`erally opposedfcontactually with each other, -i-. e. in rolling engage- 'm'ent, and with the gears 25and 26 constantly in mesh.v The arrangement of eccentrics in rolling contact with each other presents distinct "ad- -vantages` due to'reduction of parts to a minimum *number and to increased efticiency because of the slight friction encountered while the eccen- `trios roll upon each other.V The purpose of the interposed blocks "27, whenprovided, is to distribute the pressure exerted during the pressing action over alarger area.

The two sections 14 and 15 of the hollow frame `or casing and the sideand end plates 23 and 24 form a box-like structure in whichthesaid operating mechanism is practically 'totally enclosed iexcept for openings 28 at Vthe ends' (Fig. 1) to per- VVInit'ingress and egress of'air as the platen moves up and down. When the lower shaft 18 driven the platen 9fis"of course moved up or` down in l lrelation tothe-upper'platen 8 by reason of the `direct action of theopposed` co-actingeccentrics or cams, the maximum pressure beingfapplied when-the full extent of the throw orlift of said membersis reached; The, constructionV and arrangement o'f the various parts is such that when the platens are closed the pressure applied by the eccentrics or cams is central so that leather of varying thickness has the same pressure on the thicl'cl'parts as on 'the thin parts, as the platens v'and thepoint of contactA ofV the eccentrics or the Canis with each other or with the interposedblock 'or blocks forma pressure triangle which equalizes the pressure along thetwo edges of the upper platen. HIn other words the pressure is equally distributed on thework since the pressure is centrally applied and since' a slight tipping movement is permitted between the upper platen-carrying section 15 and thelower section 14. lSince Hthe gears are eccentric they remain in mesh irrespective of the movementjof 'the' platen 9 and thereby maintainl a definite" relation circumferentially between the cams or eccentrics.

llhelower half or section14 of the platen frame conveniently' serves as an oil reservoirV to "pro- "vide ample andY continuous lubrication for the lower'shaft', and the bearingsfor the upper shaft maybe lubricated by means of an oil pump (not y'sliti'tn) '-Asuitably'arranged and driven.` rlhe surpliis 'oil fromthe upperbearing runs down on to reservoir'for-use overagain.

the mechanism underneathand collects in the As will be readily understood the machine isl constructed to have a certain amount of yieldability or springiness due to limited deection of the beams or girders under load, i. e. when the lower platen 9 is raised and pressed against the upper platen 8 by the eccentrics or cams, this being desirable to the production of satisfactory results...

Apart from the aforesaid springine'ss the plat- ;ens are also made relatively adjustable by positively operated means to enable the press or machine to deal with work of different thicknesses,

and to regulate the pressure applied tothe work. Conveniently for this purpose, the lower platen 9 is furnished underneath with oppositely extending inclines or inclined portions 29 and is movably mounted in bearers 30 fixed on the to-p ofthe section 15 of the platen frame. Wedges 31 having inclined surfaces compleinental to the inclines 29 are slidably mounted in longitudinal guides 32y on lthe top of said frame section 15'for movement to- Wards and from 'each other by means of a right 'and left hand screw shaftV 33- operable through lthe medium of worm 34' and -wormwheel 35, or

other gearing, also mounted on the section 15 of the platen framasaid gearing being operable by a handwheel 38 located at the front of the ma.-

chine. Y y

7' For the purpose of -compensating for small inequalities inthe material and to give deep embossing, when the machine is used for embossing yleather orf-fibrous materials, the lower platen is between arms 38 in turn mounted so as to swing up and down abouta horizontal axis 39 constitutedb'y a spindle arranged parallel with the eccentric shaft 19aat one side ofthe center thereof. ThisV spindle 39 is mounted in bearings 40 fixed on a longitudinal frame member 4l attached to brackets 42 in `turn applied to the end n'iembers 3 of the machine frame at the front.

The lower eccentric or cam shaft 18a is carried in suitable bearings 15a in a` separate frame or housing 14a fixed on the lower beamsor girders l.

ihe arrangement is such that in pressure-applying position the platen 9a occupies a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 5, and, when in workreceiving'position, it assumes a steeply inclined -ory tilted position, as indicated Fig. 6, so that,

when the operator lays the material to be oper- Aated upon on the platen'9a,'said material will, by

slipping down Athefslo'pe, spread itself over the platen without having to be pulled into position frcnrtlfie back of the machinathe necessity for an` assistant operator being thereby eliminated.

VPreferably and as shownth'e swinging yframe or casing 15a is itself pivoted at 43 on the swing arms so as to enable it to rock transversely to a limited extent, and compression springs 44, ylocated in pockets .45 in the swing arms 38 are interposed between the rframe or casing 15a and the arms 38 on opposite sides of the pivot 43 for the purpose of enabling the platen 9a automatically to aline itself with the upper platen 8 when Y theV two are brought into contact so that the pressure is distributed uniformly. Stop screws 46 are provided on the frame 15a on opposite sides of the pivot 43 for engagement with the swing arms to limit the rocking movement, saidA screws being adjusted'so as to permit of the maximum movement likely to be required. Any other suitable arrangement Y may be adopted for the purpose aforesaid.

The machine or press is furnished at'one vend with driving mechanism including conveniently a clutch shaft 47-from which the lower eccentric or cam shaft 18 or 18a is driven by means of gears 48 to 51 (Figs. 1 and 3) and a flexible coupling 52 (the positions of gears 48 and 49 being indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig.3), a half cycle stop motion device being provided, conveniently in lassociation with the gearing, automatically to throw out the clutch 53 and thereby arrest'the rotation of the eccentric or cam shafts 18 and 19, both when the platens are fully closed. This device comprises a disc 54 furnished with diametrically opposed notches 55 `(Fig. 3), and a pivoted lever 56 tted with a roller 57 for engagement with the disc 54 and connected with a clutch Vlever 58 through a rod 63.v The said lever 56 is also connected with a starting handle 59 through the rod 63, upon operation of which the said roller is withdrawn from one o1' the other of the aforesaid notches and at the same time the clutch lever 58 is moved vagainst the action of a spring 60 to throw in the clutch. As soon as the -machine starts the operator releases the starting handle 59 so that the clutch is held in action by reason of the engagement of the roller with a high part of the disc 54 until the opposite'notch comes round. For stopping the machine or press in any intermediate position in case of emergency the following arrangement is provided. Between the clutch lever 58 and the half cycle stop lever 56 there is a releasable connection constituted by a catch or bolt 61 slidable in or on an arm 62 of the clutch lever 58. The rod or link 63 is connected to the stop lever 56 at 64 and' is furnished with a step or collar 65 for contact with the ,slidable catch or bolt 61. The said rod 63 is connected to or with the starting handle 59 at 66 and the catch bolt 61`is connected with a counterweighted treadle 67 by means of a link 68 pivoted to the catch 6l and connected to one arm 69 of a lever 7l pivoted at 70, the other arm-of the lever 71 being connected by another link 72, with the treadle 67. When the press is to be operated by one operator, the aforesaid catch or bolt 61 is normally projected for engagement with the step or collar 65 on the rod 63 by the weighted treadle 67 so that when the starting handle 59 is operated the clutch lever 58 is also operated to put the clutch into action, the clutch being then maintained in action by the notched disc 54 as already described. The weighted treadle 67 may be conditioned to hold bolt 61 in operative position with its free end projecting above collar 65 by nuts 65a upon'thescrewthreaded free end of rod 72 and adjusting said nutto move the upper end of lever 71 to the'right, whereby the bolt 61 is moved to the left. To stop the machine independently of the stop motion comprising disc 54, and irrespective of the position ofthe platen 9 or 9a, lthe treadle 67 is depressed, which action withdraws the catch or bolt 61 from engagement with the step or collar 65 and thereby releases the clutch lever 58 which is operated under the action of its controlling spring 60 to throw out the clutch. As illustrated, the clutch lever is adapted to apply, at the same time, by

means of a lever 58a, a brake constituted by a band or shoe 58h associated with a flanged portion 53a of the driven member of the clutchso that motion is more quickly arrested.4

In a machine intended for operation bytwo 5,

operators, the same catch or bolt 6l isV utilized as part of a safety mechanism designed to prevent one operator from starting' the press orlmachine f operator can start the machine. In a practical arrangement the safety handle 73 is located at the back of the machine and is connected by a rod V85 withan arm 74 on the centrally pivoted leverv 71 associated with the treadle operated connections `described above. A lost motion `connection is provided between the treadlerod 72 and the said lever 7l so as to enable the handle 73 to be operated Without affecting the treadlel 67, and vice versa. Conveniently for this purpose one arm of the lever '7l is fitted with a collar 75 slidable on the rod 7,2 and the latter is furnished with an abutment constituted by a nut 76 secured after adjustment by a lock nut 77. The safety handle 73 is controlled by a Weight on a lever 86 as will be hereinafter described, and, in this case, wherein the machine is fitted for two operators, the catch or bolt 61 is normally held ina retractedinoperative position under the weight action of the lever. 86. The Varrangement is such that the assistant operator mustV operateA the .safety handle'73 in order to hold the catch or bolt 61 in operative position, i. e. in the path of the aforesaid step` or collar 65, otherwise. movement of the starting handle 59 bythe operator atthe front of the machine is futile. Y

To enable the starting mechanism and the safety mechanism to be operated from a plurality of points respectively at the fronte and .back of the machine, shafts 79 and 80 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) are mounted transversely respectively at oppositeends of the machine in the bearings 5 pro- L vided on the top` of the upper groupvof beams or girders 4 as previously mentioned herein; vThe starting handle 59 is keyed on'the right hand shaft 79 at the front end together with a lever 81 to which is connected the rod o-r link 63 which inoperative position, and is returned to such posi.

tion after hand operation, by the VWeight von lever 82. Similarly the safety handle 73 at the back of. the machine is keyed on the left hand shaft 80'at its rear end and, in conjunction with a lever 84 keyed to shaft 80 at its front end, operates the aforesaid centrally pivoted lever 711 through the connecting rod or link 85 (Figs. v1 y A counterweighted lever 86, also at the back of the machine, is freely mounted on the right hand shaft 79 at its rear end-and connected with the safety handle 73 by another horizontal bar or rail 87. It will be understood that the v operative movements of the starting lever 86 and the safety lever 73 take place against the action of the counterweight on lever 86 and that-the return movements 'of the levers are effected'by said fio weight. It is clear, therefore, that the assistant lat the back of the machine may move ithe catch `or bolt 6l 'cooperative position using either lever 86 or 73, and that hemustdo this before thel attachment in the form of a frameVv adapted to be iniiuenced by` the deflection of the beamsy o-r girders andfin. conjunction with a multiplying mechanism, for example, a system of links and levers, to transmit kthe deflection to. a Apointer working overa suitably calibrated scale.` AA con- .venient arrangementifcr use in conjunction with upperandlower groups of beams or girders comprisesupper Vand lower horizontal bars 88 vand 89 shaped as T irons (Fig l) and connected by tie rods 90, the bar 88 being located above the upper groups of Vbeams or girders 4 and the bar 89 below 'the lower group 1, the arrangement being supported'by compressionV springs'91 interposed between the upper bar 88A and the adjacent beams or girders 4. .Fixed centrally on the lower group fof beamsor girders land below the same is a `presser member 92 (Fig. l) vfor action upon the lower bar 89, the latter being held up to the member 92 by'the aforesaid springs 91. Two

brackets 93, furnished respectively with adjusting :screws 94, are mounted'respectively on the front. 'and rear beams o-r girders 4 of the" upper group,

: and two shafts 95 and 96 mounted transversely on the adjacent upper bars 88 are furnished respectively with levers 97 and 98 of equal length .and withy twosmaller levers 99 and 190 formed with cupped free ends, 'steel balls such as 101 being interposed between these cupped ends and the heads of the aforesaidscrews 94. The said levers are .fast on 'the shafts. A pointer 102 is pivoted at 103 on the upper free end of the lever 98 and extends from the pivot downwards to a suitably graduated scale 194, and is connected, by means of a lever 105 (or extension) on the opposite side of the pivot and a link 106, with thei'ree end of the other levert?.Y Any upward deflection 1of the upper group of beams or girders and down- -ward deect'ion of. the lower group is transmitted through the bars .88, 89 and tie rods 98 to the multiplying mechanism and thenceto the pointer, .a considerable multiplication of the deflection being achieved. The calibration of the scale may be obtained by means of a hydraulic jack which `is used simply as an'accessory to obtain the exact equivalent in tons (or other desired measure) of the deflection of the beams or girders at front and back of the machine under diiferent loads, i. e.

pressures exerted by the lower platen against the i upper platen in the specic constructions hereinbefore disclosed. Thus when operated. as aforesaid the pointer will indicate in terms of tonsV (or the center, i. e. between Ythe ends of the beams or girders, since the deections under light pressure are-extremely small, andthe two groups of beamsV or girders are preferably separately connected with the indicating apparatus asin the are magniiied suiiiciently to be :the girders in each group may be interconnected by transverse rods 107. (Figs. 2 `and 3).

A .flywheel 108 is preferably providedv on the .clutch shaft 47 for the purpose ci assisting the belt or other driving member .over the peak load,

i. e.,.'.when maximum pressure is' being applied to Vthe work, maintaining uniformity of motion, and

AUnited States is:

1. In a press, cooperating presser members for applying .pressure to pieces of work, means to cause relative approaching and separating movements `of the Vpresser members comprising two pairs of eccentrics, the 'eccentrics of each pair being arranged in rolling contact with each other, and power means located between and closely adjacent to the pairs of eccentrics to effect co-operative movements of the latter. Y

2. In a press, co-operating presser members for applying pressure to pieces of work, means to cause relative approaching and separating movements of the presser members comprising two pairs of counteracting eccentrics, the eccentrics of each pair being arranged in Vrolling engagement with'each other, and means comprising intermeshed gears located between the pairs of eccentrios to effect co-operative movements of the latter.

3. In a press, "co-operating presser members relatively movable between work receiving and work pressing positions with respect to each other, means to cause such relative movement between the presser members comprising a powerl driven shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, a counteryshaft carried by one'of the presser members and arranged in parallelism with respect to the first- 4mentioned shaft, any eccentric carried 4by the countershaft inY position to have rolling contact with the first-mentioned eccentric, and means to drive the counter-shaft from` vthe power shaft vwhereby the eccentrics arecausedto eiect relative movement between the presser members.

4. In a press, astationary presser member, a presser member movable between work receiving and work pressing positions with respect to the YVstationary presser member, means to move the movable presser member comprising a powerdriven shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, a coun- -tershaft mounted in the movable presser memb-er and arranged inparallelism with respect to the first-mentioned shaft, an eccentric carried by the countershaft and arranged in rolling contact ,with the rst-mentioned eccentric, and-eccentric `gears in mesh with each otherv and mounted Xedly on the shafts whereby the eccentrics are caused to-eiiect movements ci the movable presser member. Y Y

5. In Va press, a stationary presser member, a

`movablepresser member, a movable support for -the movable presser member, a shaft Vmounted in the movable support, a second shaft-,mounted stationary with respect to the frame of the machine, a pair of eccentric cam members carried by the shafts -in rolling contact with respect to each other, and means to drive the shafts-whereby said cam members are caused to move the movable presser member and its support alternately toward and from the stationary presser member.

arrangement just described so that in all cases fi' '6.111 a MSSS, a Stationary presser. member, a

movable' presser member, a movable support for the movable presser member, a shaft mounted in the movable support, a second shaft mounted stationary with respect to the frame of the machine. a pair of eccentrics carried by the shafts inrrolling contact with respect to each other, eccentric gears of an eccentricity substantially the same as that of the eccentrics and mounted xedly on the shafts in meshed relation to each other, and means to drive said second shaft, whereby the movable presser member is moved alternately toward and from the stationary presser member. y

'7. In a press, a stationary presser member, a presser member pivoted to move between work receiving and Work pressing positions with respect to the stationary presser member, means to move the movable presser member comprising a shaft, an eccentric on the shaft, a countershaft carried by th'e pivoted presser member, an eccentric carried by the countershaft in position to have rolling contact with the first-mentioned eccentric, and means to drive both shafts whereby the eccentrics are caused to roll in contactwith each other to effect movement of the movable presser member into widely spaced relation with respect to the stationary presser member and theninto co-operative relation thereto.

8. In a press, a stationary presser member, a movable presser member, a pivoted support for the movable presser member, a shaft mounted in the pivoted support, a second shaft mounted stationary with respect to the frame of the machine, a pair of eccentrics of substantially the same contour and size carried by the shafts with the 'eccentrics in rolling contact with each other, and means to drive the shafts whereby the movable presser member and its support are moved alternately into widely spaced relation with respect to the stationary presser member and then into co-operative relation thereto.

9. In a press, a 'horizontal stationary presser member, a movable presser member, a pivoted support for the movable presser member arranged to support the latter at an angle to the horizontal, a shaft mounted in the pivoted support, a second shaft mounted in bearings carried by the frame of the machine, a pair of eccentrics carried by the shafts with the eccentrics in rolling contact with each other, eccentric gears mounted xedly on the shafts and in meshed relation to each other, and means to drive said second shaft, whereby the movable presser member is moved by a continuous movement to a horizontal position and then into pressing relation with respect to the stationary presser member'and subsequently into widely spaced relation-thereto.

10. In a press, co-operating presser members for applying pressure to pieces of work, means to cause relative approaching and separating movements ofthe presser members comprising two pairs of eccentrics, shafts supporting the eccentrics, one of said shafts being power driven, power means located between the pairs of eccentrics to drive the other shaft from the first-mentioned power driven shaft, and bearings for the shafts located on each side of each pair of eccentrics.

11. In a press, co-operating presser members for applying pressure to pieces of work, means to cause relative aproaching and separating movements of the presser members comprising two pairs of co-operating eccentrics, the eccentrics of each pair being arranged in rolling engagement with each other, intermeshed eccentric gears 1ocated between the pairs of eccentrics, shafts for the eccentrics. and eccentric gears, one of said shafts being driven by the other through said eccentric gears, and bearings forthe shafts located on each side of each pair of eccentrics.

12. In a press, co-operating presser members relatively movable between work receiving and work pressing positions with respect to each oth-A the latter from the power shaft whereby the ec- Y centrics are caused to effect relative movement Y between the presser members, and bearings'for the shafts located between said driving means and the pair of eccentrics and on each side of said driving means.

13. In a press, a stationary presser member, a presser member movable between work receiving and work pressing positions with respect to the stationary presser member, means to move the' movable presser member comprising a power- 

